Last week we were invited to a breakfast briefing to discover more about children and food allergies and why early detection can make a huge difference to a child’s well being at school. Now I know my children aren’t at school but I’m always happy to learn about things which might affect their health.

Food allergies in children

Dr. Hilary Jones, one of the country’s top allergy experts, told us about a new report released by the EAACI (European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology) which has shown that life threatening allergic reactions in children increased 7-fold in the last ten years, allergies now affect at least one in four school children, and a third of all allergic shocks in children occur for the first time at school. Scary stuff.

Before attending the talk I didn’t know anything about food allergies. I hope the following information, which I was given at the event, is useful:

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy is a condition in which the immune system incorrectly identifies a normally harmless food protein as a threat and produces antibodies in an attempt to protect the body.

Common symptoms of food allergy

Symptoms range from mild discomfort to severe, life-threatening reactions requiring immediate medical intervention. Typical symptoms include eczema, skin rash/itching, swelling around the eyes, swollen lips, stomach ache and digestive problems.

Most common food allergens

cow’s milk
eggs
peanuts and tree nuts
fish and shellfish
soy
wheat

There is no cure for food allergies, and it is managed by avoiding the particular food from their diet. Accurate diagnosis is really important as it can help you protect your child’s health. You can ask for an allergy blood test at your GP’s surgery and alongside a physical examination, patient case history and blood test results your doctor will be able to make a proper diagnosis.

Dr. Hilary Jones was lovely and happy to answer everyone’s questions and pose for a photo too. Notice the absence of the toddler who is going through a phase of not wanting his picture taken!